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Fantasy Insider: Players To Start In Week 5

Scott Engel of RotoExperts.com has more than 20 years of experience in the Fantasy industry and is an inaugural member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association’s Hall of Fame. This is his seventh season providing Fantasy Football coverage and advice on Seahawks.com.

After four weeks of regular season play, we seem to have a good idea of some early established trends for this season. It is pretty clear that some players who came into this season as established or potential top players are not performing up to expectations, while others, most notably Patrick Mahomes and Calvin Ridley, are soaring above what we did originally project. Of course, there will always be surprises like the Seahawks’ Mike Davis in Week Four, and he was a popular waiver add in the days thereafter. At this point, we must adjust our outlooks for many players and set our lineups accordingly.

Here's a look at which players are worth starting consideration in Week Five.

Running Backs

T.J. Yeldon vs. Kansas City: He could settle in as the Jaguars starting running back for a spell, as Leonard Fournette could miss a few weeks with a hamstring problem. His next draw as a starter is the Chiefs, who have allowed the most Fantasy Points Per Game to opposing running backs among AFC teams (30.15). Yeldon is a dual threat as a runner and receiver.

Dion Lewis vs. Buffalo: The versatile Lewis is clearly the best Fantasy RB pick on the Titans roster right now. We may have not quite seen the best of him yet statistically this year, and the Bills allow 23.28 FFPG to opposing RBs, fourth most among AFC teams. He’s an even better play in PPR formats.

Mike Davis vs. Los Angeles Rams: After rushing for 101 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s win over Arizona, Davis is officially on the Fantasy radar. He should be a key performer as the Seahawks continue to establish their running game. You should consider Davis at your flex spot, and as a bonus, keep in mind the Rams have allowed 29 receptions to opposing RBs, third-most among NFC teams.

Javorius Allen vs. Cleveland: He is most known to Fantasy PPR players as a good piece for depth for his pass-catching prowess. Allen, however, also has three rushing TDs and a receiving score. His role could continue to grow in the Baltimore offense, and he is a viable flex play, especially in larger leagues.

Wide Receivers

Mike Williams vs. Oakland: The second-year wideout has shown many signs of being on the way to firmly establishing himself as the Chargers’ true No. 2 WR. This week, he should produce well against an Oakland defense that has allowed 30.25 FFPG to opposing WRs, second highest among AFC teams.

Kenny Golladay vs. Green Bay: Also in his second season, Golladay already has a 100-yard game and two outings with a TD catch to his credit this season. A big, fast target who now gives the Lions a real presence as a scorer anywhere on the field, he lines up against a Packers pass defense that has already allowed six TD receptions to opposing WRs.

Emmanuel Sanders vs. New York Jets: The Broncos have a potent one/two punch at running back with rookies Phillip Lindsay and Royce Freeman, but they also roll out very respectable playmakers at WR. Sanders is the biggest threat to opposing secondaries right now, and the Jets have allowed 781 receiving yards to opposing WRs, third-most in the AFC.

Tight Ends

Tyler Kroft vs. Miami: Because of injury issues, Kroft is once again being asked to take on a larger role in the Cincinnati passing game, and last year he delivered when called on to the tune of seven TD receptions. Andy Dalton faces the league’s 26th-ranked pass defense this week, and he will often look for his tight end when he gets closer to the goal line area.

George Kittle vs. Arizona: There has been a QB change in San Francisco, but Kittle remains a prime figure in the 49ers passing game. Last week he caught eight passes for 126 yards and a TD, including an 82-yard catch-and-run for a score against the Chargers.

Quarterbacks

Andy Dalton vs. Miami: The Bengals QB already has two games in which he has thrown for three TD passes and he has gone over 300 yards in each of his past two games. He has improved pass protection this season along with a deep receiving crew.

Joe Flacco vs. Cleveland: If you have been streaming QBs and don’t have an elite passer at the position, Flacco continues to be a solid option. He already has two 300-yard games this season and three outings with two TD passes.

Seahawks Fantasy Focus

A renewed focus on the run game, and a successful one at that, makes more than one Seahawks RB worthy of flex consideration this week, especially if injuries or bye weeks are an issue. Chris Carson will also be in the mix against the Rams, and should receive flex consideration depending on your situation. Doug Baldwin will likely be more of a factor in the passing game now that he will be in his second game back from an injury layoff, and he should be back in your lineups as a Fantasy WR3. Tyler Lockett is a fine consideration if you have to fill needs because of injuries or byes. Russell Wilson may have to trade some offensive punches with a very explosive Rams offense, and he is a must-start in two QB formats.

For more Week 5 advice and tips from Scott Engel and the RotoExperts team, get theXclusive Edge Fantasy Football Packageon RotoExperts.com. Use promocode “seahawks” at checkout for a special discount.

FILE - In this Sept. 10, 2000, file photo, St. Louis Rams' Devin Bush tackles Seattle Seahawks's Ricky Watters during the second half of an NFL football game in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer, File)

Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander tumbles into the endzone on top of St. Louis Rams' linebacker Trev Faulk for a touchdown in the first quarter Sunday, Oct. 10, 2004 at Qwest Field in Seattle (AP Photo/Steve Shelton)

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St. Louis Rams' Marshall Faulk (28) is taken down by the Seattle Seahawks' Niko Koutouvides (53) and Ken Hamlin (26) in the first quarter of their NFC wild card playoff game in Seattle, Saturday, Jan. 8, 2005. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

St. Louis Rams corner back Jerametrius Butler (23) breaks up a pass to Seattle Seahawks receiver Itula Mili in the first quarter of their NFC wild card playoff game in Seattle, Saturday, Jan. 8, 2005. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

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Seattle Seahawks' Delon Branch, right, catches a touchdown pass in front of St. Louis Rams' Travis Fisher in the forth quarter in an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 15, 2006, in St. Louis. The Seahawks won 30-28. (AP Photo/Bill Boyce)

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Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck (8) yells out a change of play from the line of scrimmage and St. Louis Rams defensive players react during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 21, 2007, in Seattle. The Seahawks won 33-6. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Elaine Thompson

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Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Deion Branch celebrates after catching a 9-yard touchdown pass during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game as St. Louis Rams' Oshiomogho Atogwe, left, and Tye Hill, right, look on Sunday, Nov. 25, 2007, in St. Louis. The Seahawks won 24-19. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)

Tom Gannam

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Seattle Seahawks cornerback Josh Wilson tries to get past St. Louis Rams' Jonathan Wade, center right, and Antonio Pittman, left, on a kickoff return in the first quarter of a NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2008 in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Ted S. Warren

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Seattle Seahawks running back Maurice Morris runs with the ball during an NFL football game against the St. Louis Rams Sunday, Dec. 14. 2008, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)

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Seattle Seahawks' Julius Jones (22) runs with the ball as St. Louis Rams' David Vobora falls behind in the second quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Elaine Thompson

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St. Louis Rams' Laurent Robinson, left, runs with Seattle Seahawks' Darryl Tapp (55) and Ken Lucas in pursuit in the first quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Elaine Thompson

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Seattle Seahawks safety Jordan Babineaux forces St. Louis Rams wide receiver Ruvell Martin out of bounds during the first quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)

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Seattle Seahawks running back Leon Washington (33) heads downfield against the St. Louis Rams defense during the first quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 3, 2010, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)

Tom Gannam

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Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (26) runs for a touchdown against the St. Louis Rams in the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 12, 2011, in Seattle. The Seahawks won 30-13. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

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Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson runs from St. Louis Rams outside linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 30, 2012, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

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Seattle Seahawks' Marshawn Lynch (24) rushes as Russell Okung (76) blocks in the first half of an NFL football game against the St. Louis Rams, Sunday, Dec. 30, 2012, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

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St. Louis Rams' Stedman Bailey (12) gets up after a hard hit by Seattle Seahawks' Kam Chancellor (31) in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2013, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

John Froschauer

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Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Golden Tate (81) makes a catch against St. Louis Rams cornerback Janoris Jenkins (21) during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 28, 2013, in St. Louis. Tate ran the ball into the end zone for a touchdown. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Michael Conroy

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Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin, right, slips past St. Louis cornerback E.J. Gaines after catching a pass for a 49-yard gain during the first quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 19, 2014, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)

L.G. Patterson

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Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Kevin Norwood carries the ball against the St. Louis Rams in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

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Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) scrambles against the St. Louis Rams in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

John Froschauer

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Seattle Seahawks' Doug Baldwin (89) reaches for a touchdown pass reception against the St. Louis Rams in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

Stephen Brashear

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St. Louis Rams wide receiver Tavon Austin (11) catches a pass as Seattle Seahawks defensive end Cliff Avril defends during the first quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 13, 2015, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)

Seattle Seahawks tight end Jimmy Graham, right, catches a touchdown pass under pressure by Los Angeles Rams defensive back John Johnson during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 8, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Mark J. Terrill

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Seattle Seahawks tight end Luke Willson makes a catch for a touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Elaine Thompson

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Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett, left, makes a catch for a touchdown next to Los Angeles Rams cornerback Marcus Peters, right, during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)